Cancer – What is It and How Does It Affect You?
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the body start growing and multiplying out of control. They may form a mass, or tumor, that forms in one part of the body. The cancer cells can also break away from the tumor and spread to other parts of the body. These are called secondary cancers. Cancer is very different from other diseases, such as a common cold or arthritis. The cause of cancer is not completely known. However, genetics and lifestyle choices (like smoking or being overweight) play a role in how likely someone is to get the disease. The most common types of cancer in the United States are nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Scientists have learned a lot about cancer since its first description in 1910. Each new discovery brought scientists closer to understanding what causes the disease, but it took a long time for researchers to figure out how the cancer process actually works.
Until recently, most cancers were thought to develop by chance. Then, in the late 1970s, scientists discovered that some chemicals, called carcinogens, can change the way that DNA communicates with a cell. When a normal cell has a changed gene, it may make mistakes when it divides that can lead to cancer.
These mistakes are called mutations. Mutations can be caused by chemicals, radiation, or viruses. Sometimes they are inherited from parents. They can also happen by accident, such as when a healthy cell splits to become two new cells instead of just one. Cancer can start in any type of cell in the body, but it usually starts in cells that line blood vessels or form tissues that line internal organs. Cancers can also start in cells that line the reproductive organs, such as ovaries and testicles, or in the cells that line the lungs.
Doctors have found ways to treat many cancers. These treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Sometimes doctors also use medicines to prevent or treat precancerous conditions, or to stop cancers from spreading.
Each type of cancer is named for where it starts in the body or what kind of cell it starts in. There are over 100 different types of cancer. Some cancers grow and spread quickly and others grow more slowly. Some cancers form tumors, or lumps, and others do not. Cancers can also grow into the tissues that surround them and take over those tissues. Cancers that grow and spread this way are often called metastases.
Almost two-thirds of all cancer deaths are due to things that can be prevented. Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and being overweight are the leading causes of preventable cancer death. Cancer screening tests can find some types of cancers early when they are smaller and easier to treat. Doctors recommend regular cancer screening tests for people of all ages.
Cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the body start growing and multiplying out of control. They may form a mass, or tumor, that forms in one part of the body. The cancer cells can also break away from the tumor and spread to other parts of the body. These are called secondary cancers. Cancer is very different from other diseases, such as a common cold or arthritis. The cause of cancer is not completely known. However, genetics and lifestyle choices (like smoking or being overweight) play a role in how likely someone is to get the disease. The most common types of cancer in the United States are nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. Scientists have learned a lot about cancer since its first description in 1910. Each new discovery brought scientists closer to understanding what causes the disease, but it took a long time for researchers to figure out how the cancer process actually works. Until recently, most cancers were thought to develop by chance. Then, in the late 1970s, scientists discovered that some chemicals, called carcinogens, can change the way that DNA communicates with a cell. When a normal cell has a changed gene, it may make mistakes when it divides that can lead to cancer. These mistakes are called mutations. Mutations can be caused by chemicals, radiation, or viruses. Sometimes they are inherited from parents. They can also happen by accident, such as when a healthy cell splits to become two new cells instead of just one. Cancer can start in any type of cell in the body, but it usually starts in cells that line blood vessels or form tissues that line internal organs. Cancers can also start in cells that line the reproductive organs, such as ovaries and testicles, or in the cells that line the lungs. Doctors have found ways to treat many cancers. These treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Sometimes doctors also use medicines to prevent or treat precancerous conditions, or to stop cancers from spreading. Each type of cancer is named for where it starts in the body or what kind of cell it starts in. There are over 100 different types of cancer. Some cancers grow and spread quickly and others grow more slowly. Some cancers form tumors, or lumps, and others do not. Cancers can also grow into the tissues that surround them and take over those tissues. Cancers that grow and spread this way are often called metastases. Almost two-thirds of all cancer deaths are due to things that can be prevented. Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and being overweight are the leading causes of preventable cancer death. Cancer screening tests can find some types of cancers early when they are smaller and easier to treat. Doctors recommend regular cancer screening tests for people of all ages.